Improved curb-bit



UNTTnn STaTns ILLIAM C. BAKER,

HVlPROVED FATTNT @Tirreno oF NEW YonK, N. Y.

CURB-BIT.

To all whom 'zt may concern:

Be it known that I, IILLIAM C. BAKER, of the city ot' New York, in the county of New York, in the State of New York, have invent` ed a new and useful Improvement on a Curb- Bit, which I call Bakers adjustable curb-bit; 7 and I do hereby declare that the following` is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specication, in which- Figure l is a perspective View, the letters A A showing the spiral springs around the cheekpiece; B B, therein or driving eyes; C C, the check-eyes; D, the mouth-piece; E E, the top eyes; F, the curb-chain; G G, the nuts screwed onto the bottom of the cheek-piece.

Fig. 2 shows the rein or driving eye detached.

Fig. 3 shows the lowerl part of the cheekpiece with a screw-thread cut on its end to hold the nut G.

Fig. 4 shows the nut G detached.

Fig. 5 shows the lower part of the cheekpiece with the nut G and driving-eye B attached, and the spiral spring A partially compressed by the tension of the rein attached to the driving-eye B.

My adjustable curb for a horses bit is constructed like an ordinary curb-bit, with the difference exhibited by the drawings. This difference consists chietlyin the cheek-piece, which in the curb-bits now in common use has two or more eyes for the driving and curb reins. These eyes on the cheek-piece of the curb-bits now in use are immovably attached, and make a greater or less leverage and a proportionate curb of greater or less power as they approach the lower end of the cheek-piece, where the lever-pom r is the greatest, and where such great injuryis done to a horses mouth. This injury and difculty is wholly avoided and obviated by my adjustable curb-bit. Ido away entirely with the use of the driving-eye attached permanently and innnovabl y to the cheek-piece, and substitute therefor one movable sliding eye, which may be like that shown in Fig. 2, or it may be mafie in any other form or shape so long as it slides up and down the cheek-piece readily and subserves the intended purpose-to wit, when pulled hard upon by the reins, which are buckled into or otherwise attached to the driving-eye, to press down gradually the spiral spring A, (which may be made ot' steel or other material,) and thus produce the same effect as it' the driving-eye were fastened low down upon the cheek-piece, as in the ordinary curb-bit now in common use. The driving-eye, Fig. 2, is first .slipped upon the cheek-piece from the bottoni until it reaches the mouthlpiece l).

The spiral spring A may be made of any dimension so long as it slips on readily, and of any degree of tension and power required, the object being to have the spring so compressible as to be able to press it downward to any desired extent when pulling strongly upon the reins, and sufficiently resilient to spring back to its normal position when thel reins are somewhat slackened. This spiral spring envelops the whole length of thc cheekpiecel below the driving-eye, and after being slipped on is secured in its position by the nut G, Fig. 4, screwed onto the thread cut on the lower end of the cheek-piece, as shown in Fig. 3. This nut is made to screw on and off, so that the spiral spring and driving-eye may be slipped off and the whole readily oiled and cleaned.

The spiral spring may or may not be attached to the drivingeye. The spiral spring may be attached some other way, as on top .instead of' under the driving-eye.

The driving-eye maybe attached to the ring on the hack and otherwise. The driving-eye may have a wheel to lessen the friction on the cheek-piece,

The check-piece may be made of a different shape-as, for instance, the lower part of the cheek-piece may be ata different angle from the upper part, thus giving greater power; or

from the rest of the bit.

The advantages of my adjustable curb-bit are that it is a curb only when the exigeucy requires its use as a curb-bit. It obviates the necessity for the extra or safety rein employed by equestrians, and also used for carriage-drivin g, to a limited extent, in the United States and very generallyin Europe. Itis easier on the horses mouth in ordinary driving', as the spiral spring will yield tothe uneven tension on the reins produced from driving over rough roads and from other causes. It allows the requisite draft on the horses mouth with less effort to the driver than the ordinary bit, and it wholly the cheek-piece may be at a different angle does away with the necessity common curb-bit, which is cruel and injurious to the animal, While, at the same time, it serves the purpose of the strongest curb to the most Vicious o-r refractory horse, and the gradual tension upon the spiral spring prevents the injury caused by a sudden jerk or violent pullingr upon the common curb-bit now in use.

My adjustable curb-bit can be used upon the most gentle horse, keeping,` him under easy control under any and all circumstances, and is a perfect precautionary measure against aI spirited animals taking; fright or having a vicious freak, the only resort in such cases before the discovery ot' my invention being` the for using the permanent curb,

which alvays remains the same thing` so long;` as the reins are buckled in, no matter to which eye vot' the cheek-piece the reins may be attached.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The application ot' a spiral spring to the cheek-piece or' a curb-bit, in combination with a movable sliding` driving-eye, the Whole constructed, attached, and operate-d substantially in the manner liereinbefore described.

WVM. (l. BAKER.

Witnesses W. J. A. FULLER, LEON ABBETT. 

